How are restrictive practices authorised under the NDIS?

Who does what

Responsibility is split between governments. The NDIS Commission oversees behaviour support and the use of restrictive practices by NDIS providers. States and territories keep responsibility for the laws and policies that authorise restrictive practices.

Within that system, three parties are involved:

• The NDIS behaviour support practitioner writes the behaviour support plan and lists each regulated restrictive practice
• The implementing provider applies for authorisation in the person's state or territory
• The implementing provider lodges evidence of authorisation with the NDIS Commission and then reports use every month

How each state and territory does it

Based on the Western Australian Government's 2025 summary of state and territory frameworks:

• ACT: under the Senior Practitioner Act 2018, plans are approved by independent panels registered with the Senior Practitioner, and practices are authorised once the Senior Practitioner registers the plan
• NSW: a policy framework. A senior manager of the provider can authorise for an interim plan, and a Restrictive Practice Authorisation Panel convened by the provider decides for a comprehensive plan, unanimously, with consent required
• NT: a Senior Practitioner authorises under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Authorisations) Act 2019
• Queensland: under the Disability Services Act 2006, the department can give short term approval, guardians or the Public Guardian give consent for some practices, and QCAT authorises seclusion or containment
• SA: a Senior Authorising Officer, with Authorised Program Officers inside providers able to authorise lower level practices
• Tasmania: the Senior Practitioner authorises under the Disability Rights, Inclusion and Safeguarding Act 2024
• Victoria: Authorised Program Officers can authorise chemical and environmental restraint, while seclusion, physical and mechanical restraint need the Victorian Senior Practitioner's approval
• WA: a policy framework, with a Quality Assurance Panel of a senior manager and an independent behaviour support practitioner who did not write the plan

How long authorisation lasts

In most places authorisation lasts up to 6 months for an interim behaviour support plan and up to 12 months for a comprehensive plan. There are exceptions: South Australia allows up to 8 months from the start of an interim plan and up to 15 months for a comprehensive plan, and Western Australia up to 5 months for an interim plan. Authorisation also ends when the plan expires in some states.

Build reauthorisation into your plan review cycle so a practice never runs past its authorisation.

Consent

Consent works differently across the country. In most jurisdictions authorisation does not require consent, although the person and their family should be involved. NSW requires consent from the person or an appropriate consent giver. Queensland requires consent from a guardian for a restrictive practice for some practices, or approval from QCAT for containment and seclusion.

Lodging evidence with the NDIS Commission

Once authorised, the implementing provider uploads evidence in the NDIS Commission Portal. For plans lodged from 12 October 2026 this is done in the new portal, where a single authorisation document can cover every restrictive practice in the plan. Monthly reports on use then follow, due within 5 business days of each month end.

If a practice is not authorised

Using a regulated restrictive practice without authorisation, outside the behaviour support plan, or differently from it, is an unauthorised restrictive practice. The registered provider must report it to the NDIS Commission as a reportable incident. Only registered providers can use regulated restrictive practices at all.

Several states have been reviewing their frameworks, so always check the current rules with the authorising body where the person lives.